Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is already thinking ahead. To March and April, at least, when it could all be to play for in the race for the top four, the latter stages of the FA Cup and maybe even the Champions League knockouts.
“We go to Dubai (after Reading) and work on some fitness because we will need that fitness towards the end of March and April we will need legs and I think we have got them,” he said.
Like Jose Mourinho, the Norwegian feels he can’t rely on rotation alone – his squad need a mini pre-season of sorts – and that is why United are heading to the City of Gold for the second successive year.
After such a hectic festive programme, there is rare clear week ahead before a weekend game. Indeed, United have eight days between their FA Cup third-round tie against Reading, when Solskjaer’s poised to make wholesale changes, and the trip to Wembley to face Spurs.
The coaching staff will have three main aims when they board that seven-hour flight to Dubai: fitness work, tactical drills and bringing the squad even closer together.